Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-06-22
rHOSR CoNFEDERArE FLaGS

tHOou CONFEDEhAIE FLHG&
The great amount OF noise raised
throughout the country concerning the
order, said to have been approved by
the president, for returning the conTed-
eiate flags taken during the war to the
southern states from whom they
were captured appears to have been q
little premature.
The nags had been neglected for years
having been packed away in boxes in
the attic Of the war department. The
disposition OF the flags, which seemed
to be answering no good purposes
where they were, was the main point;
and the consideration was presented to
the president that some flags had been
returned 10 loyal states upon their re-
quest in individual cases, and the rest,
IL desired, might just as well be return
ed together. The return Of the con-
federate flags which were with the 9TH
ers in the department was suggested,
but there was not the slightest thought
81 interfering in any way with the cap
tured flags now held by any state.
The right Of the department to make
these returns being questioned by the
president, such right was distinctly as
serted and presidents alleged, and
thereupon his oral assent was given to
the proposed action. The matter was
dismissed from his mind until COM
ment thereon, within the last day or so,
brought it again to his attention. when,
upon personally examining the law and
considering the subject more carefully,
he satisfied himself that no disposition
OF these flags could be made without
congressional action, aud directed a
suspension of operations.
During the Arthur administration
Adjutant General Drum urged upon
Secretary Lincoln the propriety of re-
turning them TO the southern states
and Mr.. Lincoln finally assented that
this disposition should be made. Con-
gresham BOutelie of Maine, becoming
apprised OF what was contemplated,
notified the war department anthori-
ties that he would present resolution
Of investigation and inquiry in the
house demanding to know upon what
authority these flags were to be return
cd without the assent Of congress.
Thereupon the matter was dropped and
nothing was heard oft
1t seems that for some unexplained
reason General Drum had set his heart
upon returning these Gags, and little
doubt exists o. the fact he represented
to the president that it was the proper
thing to do, and that ample law existed
to warrant this action. The president
did not issue any order to return the
flags and the matter was simply held
in allegiance until the premature action
Of General Drum caused the question
to be further considered.
The president yesterday sent the fol
lowing to the secretary OF war:
II have to-day considered with more
care than WREN the subject was orally
presented me the action Of your depart
menL directing letters to be addressed
to the governors of all the states offer
ing to return, IL desired, to all the loyal
states, the union flags captured during
the war OF the rebellion by the confed-
crate forces and afterwards recovered
by government trCoPS; and to the con-
federaie states, the flags captured by
the union forces, all of which for many
years have been packed in boxes and
stored in the cellar and attic Of the war
department. am Of the opinion that
the return Of the flags in the manner
thus contemplated is not authorized by
existing law, nor justified as an execu-
tive act. l request, therefore, that no
further steps be taken in the matter
except TO examine and inventory the
flags and adopt proper measures tor
their preservation. Any direction IA
to the final disposition of them should
originate with congress. Yours truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND"